Two-time champions West Indies kept their Super 12 hopes alive from Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup beating Zimbabwe by 31 runs in a must-win match in Australia’s Hobart Wednesday.
The Caribbean side suffered a 42-run defeat against Scotland in their first group match but came back strongly against Zimbabwe, who made a flying start by beating Ireland by 31 runs Monday.
In Wednesday’s other Group B match, Ireland beat Scotland by six wickets, also in Hobart.
After the day’s first phase Group B matches, all four teams – Scotland, Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Ireland – secured two points each from as many matches.
Friday’s deciding final round of matches will see Ireland face the West Indies before Scotland take on Zimbabwe.
The top two sides from each group will qualify for the Super 12s, which start Saturday. The winner of Group A and the runner-up from Group B will go into a group.
In today’s crucial match, the West Indies batted first after winning the toss and scored 153-7 in 20 overs. Opener Johnson Charles was the top scorer for them (45 runs off 36 balls).
In today’s match, Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe claimed three wickets for 19 runs in four overs.
In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 122 runs in 18.2 overs. Lower-order batter Luke Jongwe (29) and opener Wesly Madhevere (27) were the top scorers for them.
Alzarri Joseph ripped through the Zimbabwe batting order, grabbing four wickets for 16 runs in four overs and was adjudged the player of the match. Jason Holder took three wickets for 12 runs in 3.2 overs.
Source: United News of Bangladesh